SANJEEV KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is first petition filed under Sec. 482 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.0326 dtd. 31/10/2025 registered under Ss. 420 and 406 of IPC at Police Station Division No.5, District Ludhiana.

(2.) The present case was registered on the basis of complaint given to the police by Upkar Singh Bedi with the allegations that he is an Advocate by profession. His children and children of present petitioner are studying in the same school, as a result of which, he developed intimacy with petitioner - Sanjeev Kumar, who claimed himself to be a senior officer in Department of Financial Services as he used to wear the identity card and t-shirts with the logo of the said department. Graudually, accused started visiting his office to seek legal advice and he gained trust in him. Thereafter, accused requested him to advance him a loan of Rs.2,80,000.00 and on his persistent requests, he gave him a loan of Rs.2,80,000.00 through bank transactions in February-March, 2025 and accused promised to return the same in about 45 days. Accused, thereafter, returned a sum of Rs.57,000.00 to him through Google Pay but thereafter he refused to pay the balance amount and proclaimed that he has cheated many people in the same manner. Thereafter, he made inquiries from the concerned department from where he came to know that petitioner- accused is not employed in the said department and he impersonated as an auditor/ officer of the Department of Financial Services and he has cheated many persons by misusing fake identity cards and uniform of the said Department and he sought action against him.

(3.) Upon notice, learned State Counsel has appeared. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have perused the record carefully.